Diet by Temperament

In Sahaja Yoga, there is a general understanding that there are two basic types of personality. Of course, there are as many unique personalities as there are people on this earth, but for ease and convenience, a modern psychologist might use the terms extroverts and introverts.

In Sahaja Yoga, we refer to this as the left-sided and right-sided states. This is not fixed and can change on a daily basis, which is why nothing is hard and fast. We should not turn anything into a dogma or become fanatic—flexibility is key. Ultimately, we can help balance our mood simply by eating or omitting certain foods and drinks.

Approaching Diet From a Temperament
or Mood Standpoint
Balancing the Sun & Moon Channel

According to Sahaja Yoga meditation—which shares similar holistic concepts with traditional eastern frameworks regarding how certain foods affect our mental and physical well-being—we are not just looking at what is universally “healthy.” Instead, we are looking at a diet tailored to your daily temperament and mood.

Shri Mataji spoke about two types of states: those she called “right-sided,” who live life in what we would describe as the fast lane, and those who are “left-sided,” who can feel lethargic, overly emotional, or find it difficult to get motivated.

As you can imagine, busy people who are always on the go need nutritional choices that cool them down to bring them into balance. Generally speaking, they should eat less red meats (such as beef, lamb, and pork), which are considered highly heating to the liver and can be difficult to digest. In Sahaja Yoga, we say these foods over-heat the body.

Oily and deeply fried foods also strain the liver and can make a person more “fiery,” so they should be eaten sparingly. Similarly, pungent spices like chili, cayenne, and garlic are known to generate intense internal heat. Alcohol should be avoided whether you are currently left-sided or right-sided; it directly impacts liver function, and modern science increasingly reminds us that there are no truly safe limits. Coffee and tea are heating too due to their caffeine content.

It is important to note that while right-sided individuals should consume these heating foods strictly in moderation, a balanced diet including a variety of fresh nutrients remains essential for overall health.

From this framework, we can easily see that the foods that are a “minus value” to those who rush around, think, and plan too much would actually be beneficial, stimulating options for a person dealing with lethargy.

A right-sided person may find great success observing a diet low in high-octane protein, perhaps trying a vegetarian-based diet for a window of time. We are not advocating that this must be your fixed diet for life; rather, we suggest that these kinds of foods can be tested scientifically according to your unique personal needs, moods, and shifting personality types.

Evidence to support that a cooling liver diet benefits overactivity can be found here on this
scientific research paper.

Explore More Resources